Reflections on Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan

The Righting Relations Canada Anti-Ableism and Accessibility Change Lab is excited to release their Reflections on the Federal Disability Inclusion Action Plan. This document provides an overview of Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which was released in 2022. Our reflection directly engage with each of the Plan’s four “Pillars of Action”: financial security, employment, accessible and inclusive communities, and a modern approach to disability. It also offers actionable recommendations based on our Change Lab members’ own lived experiences with disability.

A Call for Action in the Action Plan

We commend the government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities. However, our reflection highlights several critical areas of concern within the Plan, specifically its lack of measurable goals, specificity, and concrete implementation strategies. We worry that the Plan’s broad and ambiguous goals will hinder, not advance, effective progress and action.

The Government of Canada claims that this Action Plan would foster a “comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion.” However, when it is compared to the prevalence and expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) since 2020, it quickly becomes apparent that, in reality, MAiD is Canada’s disability plan in action.

The Reflections on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan document has been shared to representatives of all three levels of government across Canada, as well as with people and organizations working with or advocating for people with disabilities. We urge the federal government to take a stronger leadership role in setting standards and ensuring intergovernmental cooperation to address these critical needs and fulfill Canada’s human rights obligations. We believe that a barrier-free Canada is not only possible but necessary for the well-being of present and future generations.

Connecting with the Change Lab

The Righting Relations Anti-Ableism Change Lab has designed and delivered training on ableism in healthcare, language, and the workplace for public sector employees at Health Canada and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. This experience reinforced our belief that there is a critical need for capacity building for government and public sector employees who are involved in decision-making and policy development that impacts disabled people.

For more information, to connect with the Anti-Ableism Change Lab, or to set up training with us, please reach out to admin@rightingrelations.org. For screen readers, a Microsoft Word .docx format is available to download here. You can also download a plain language summary of our response in Microsoft Word .docx format here. If you have any issues accessing or reading any of these documents, please email us at admin@rightingrelations.org and we will be happy to work with you to find an answer!